A bipartisan effort in the U.S. House has put forth a new bill to prohibit the use of the Chinese artificial intelligence app DeepSeek on federal devices, mirroring the existing policy regarding TikTok. The 'No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act' was introduced by two representatives, with concerns raised about the potential for surveillance and misinformation by the Chinese government through the app.
The lawmakers highlighted the Chinese Communist Party's intentions to exploit tools for undermining national security and collecting data on Americans. The proposal comes in the wake of DeepSeek's AI model achieving competitive performance levels with American counterparts at a fraction of the cost, sparking debates among policymakers and tech experts.
The U.S. and China are currently engaged in heightened competition across various technological fronts, with measures such as tariffs on Chinese goods and restrictions on Chinese tech firms already in place. Last year, a decision was made to divest TikTok from its Chinese parent company, and a ban on the app's use on federal devices was subsequently implemented.
The new bill specifically targets DeepSeek and any AI applications from its parent company, High-Flyer, with exceptions for national security and research purposes. While some lawmakers advocate for broader restrictions on AI technology from China, the focus remains on safeguarding American data and maintaining leadership in AI innovation.
Efforts to address the evolving landscape of technology and national security are ongoing, with bipartisan support for measures aimed at countering potential threats and ensuring a competitive edge in the global AI race.
